'Factory farming is also a major contributor to biodiversity loss, deforestation, climate change and soil degradation'
Northern Ireland farmed chickens and pigs are producing nearly 1 million tonnes of excrement a year, research has found.
According to the data, NI's farmed chickens and pigs produce almost a million tonnes of excrement a year or 2,555 tonnes of manure every day, following a major uptick in intensive farming supported by Stormont through the Going for Growth programme. According to the 'muck map', intensive farms holding over 2,000 pigs or 40,000 poultry in Mid Ulster, are producing the most slurry in the region at 823 tonnes a day while the River Bann basin, which flows into Lough Neagh, is dealing with up to 1,823 tonnes of chicken waste a day.
Anthony Field, Head of Compassion in World Farming's UK Office, added: "Spreading waste from large numbers of pigs, laying hens and broiler chickens housed permanently indoors or without access to pasture is a major contributor of river pollution throughout Northern Ireland." Mr Field added: "Factory farming is also a major contributor to biodiversity loss, deforestation, climate change and soil degradation. It's the biggest cause of animal cruelty on the planet, contributes to key non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance and increases the risk of future pandemics."
Stormont Climate Crisis Biodiversity Lough Neagh Blue-Green Algae
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